This activity is designed to help you understand,
through analysis of conflict situations, the factors leading to
America's entry into World War I. The class will work in groups.
After reading, each group should decide what action they would have
the United States take to best manage the conflict. Remember to
consider all the consequences of your decision carefully. War is
not pretty! Each group will have to justify it's position to the
class.

Situation 1

War breaks out in Europe between two great alliance
systems, called Alliance A and Alliance B. The issue under dispute
have nothing to do with the United States. Both A and B want to
buy American goods. What should the United States do?

1.Sell to both sides.
2.Sell to only one side.
3.Not sell to either side.
4.Other (specify).

Situation 2

Alliance A attacks and quickly defeats a small neutral
nation. Gruesome stories appear in American newspapers about the
atrocities committed by Alliance A against the people of the defeated
country. What should the United States do?

Alliance B stops United States ships and confiscates
goods purchased by Alliance A. Formal complaints by the United States
to Alliance B are ignored. What should the United States do?

Situation 4

Alliance B blockades the ports of Alliance A, which
in desperation uses submarines to attack all ships sailing to and
from the ports of Alliance B. Neutral U.S. ships, which are protected
by international laws, are sunk by the submarines. What should the
United States do?

Situation 5

A submarine of Alliance A sinks a luxury liner belonging
to Alliance B. Over one thousand people drown, including one hundred
vacationing Americans. Alliance A boasts about its actions. What
should the United States do?

Situation 6

Alliance A promises to stop sinking liners without
first warning them and providing for the passenger's safety. Alliance
A soon disregards the promise and resumes unrestricted submarine
warfare on neutral American ships. What should the United States
do?

Situation 7

America learns that Alliance a has asked Mexico, in
the event America enters the war, to aid in an attack against the
United States. In return, Mexico will be given back the parts of
Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona that were originally hers. What should
the United States do?

Mr. Sedivy no longer teaches geography, or Modern European
History (non AP), but we've decided to leave his web contribution
to these classes up anyway. The AP classes cover the same material,
but in more detail.